Unmanned vehicle launch and recovery system

Abstract

In one preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a system for launching and recovering one or more unmanned, underwater vehicles. The system includes a surface vessel having a generally low waterline for transporting, launching and recovering the unmanned vehicles. The system provides the ability to transport, launch and recover unmanned vehicles from either the port or starboard sides of the surface vessel, utilizing an A-frame hoist assembly which can be moved laterally in a controlled manner between the port and starboard sides of the surface vessel for lifting the unmanned vehicles, and which can be pivoted in a controlled manner to provide the launch and recovery operations.

1. An unmanned vehicle launch and recovery system comprising:
 one or more unmanned vehicles; 
 a RHIB-type surface vessel having port and starboard sides and an aft deck portion for transporting, launching and recovering the unmanned vehicles, the surface vessel including 
 an I-beam support assembly mounted laterally across the aft deck portion of the surface vessel, the I-beam assembly including a pair of spaced apart, generally parallel I-beam support members for providing structural foundation; 
 a movable trolley assembly mounted on the I-beam assembly, the trolley assembly including a pair of trolleys, each trolley mounted on and movable laterally along a respective I-beam between the port and starboard sides of the surface vessel, the pair of trolleys forming a laterally movable trolley axis; 
 a cradle-type assembly including a pair of cradles each mounted lengthwise along either respective side of the surface vessel for supporting a respective unmanned vehicle; 
 a pivotable A-frame hoist assembly having a base and including a vehicle recovery basket, the base of the A-frame attached lengthwise across the trolley assembly so that the A-frame is laterally moved when the trolley assembly is moved laterally toward a selected port or starboard side of the surface vessel to allow the A-frame to be controllably movable between the port and starboard sides of the vessel and controllably pivotable about the trolley axis for selective positioning over a selected one of the cradles; 
 the A-frame hoist assembly including a winch mechanism for lifting a selected unmanned vehicle from the selected cradle assembly to the vehicle recovery basket, the A-frame then being laterally movable further toward the selected port or starboard side of the vessel to allow clearance of the lifted unmanned vehicle over the respective side of the surface vessel, so that lowering of the selected unmanned vehicle by the winch mechanism over the selected side of the surface vessel to the surface allows for launching of the unmanned vehicle. 
 
     
     
       2. The system as in  claim 1  for recovery of an unmanned vehicle, including the winch mechanism lifting an unmanned vehicle from the surface up and over a selected side of the vessel where the A-frame is controllably moved laterally over a respective cradle assembly on the respective side of the surface vessel, the winch mechanism lowering the selected unmanned vehicle onto the respective cradle assembly. 
     
     
       3. The system as in  claim 2  wherein the A-frame assembly is generally planar. 
     
     
       4. The system as in  claim 3  wherein the cradle assembly is mounted lengthwise on the I-beam assembly. 
     
     
       5. The system as in  claim 4  wherein the cradle includes wire rope isolators for shock mitigation during transportation. 
     
     
       6. The system as in  claim 5  wherein the recovery basket is rotatable about the A-frame hoist assembly for launch and recovery from either side of the surface vessel. 
     
     
       7. The system as in  claim 6  wherein the unmanned vehicles are torpedo shaped and wherein the recovery basket is U-shaped to facilitate launch and recovery of the unmanned vehicles. 
     
     
       8. The system as in  claim 7  wherein the I-beam support members each include a trolley stop. 
     
     
       9. The system as in  claim 8  wherein the winch mechanism includes a snap hook fitting. 
     
     
       10. An unmanned vehicle launch and recovery system comprising:
 one or more unmanned vehicles; 
 a RHIB-type surface vessel having port and starboard sides and an aft deck portion for transporting, launching and recovering the unmanned vehicles, the surface vessel including
 an I-beam support assembly mounted laterally across the aft deck portion of the surface vessel, the I-beam assembly including a pair of spaced apart, generally parallel I-beam support members for providing structural foundation; 
 a movable trolley assembly mounted on the I-beam assembly, the trolley assembly including a pair of trolleys, each trolley mounted on and movable laterally along a respective I-beam between the port and starboard sides of the surface vessel, the pair of trolleys forming a laterally movable trolley axis; 
 a cradle-type assembly including a pair of cradles each mounted lengthwise along either I-beam member for supporting a respective unmanned vehicle; 
 a generally planar hoist assembly having a base and including a vehicle recovery basket, the base of the hoist assembly attached lengthwise across the trolley assembly so that the hoist assembly is laterally moved when the trolley assembly is moved laterally toward a selected port or starboard side of the surface vessel to allow the hoist assembly to be controllably movable between the port and starboard sides of the vessel and controllably pivotable about the trolley axis for selective positioning over a selected one of the cradles; 
 the hoist assembly including a winch mechanism for lifting a selected unmanned vehicle from the selected cradle assembly to the vehicle recovery basket, the hoist assembly then being laterally movable further toward the selected port or starboard side of the vessel to allow clearance of the lifted unmanned vehicle over the respective side of the surface vessel, so that lowering of the selected unmanned vehicle by the winch mechanism over the selected side of the surface vessel to the surface allows for launching of the unmanned vehicle. 
 
 
     
     
       11. The system as in  claim 10  for recovery of an unmanned vehicle, including the winch mechanism lifting an unmanned vehicle from the surface up and over a selected side of the vessel where the hoist assembly is controllably moved laterally over a respective cradle assembly on the respective side of the surface vessel, the winch mechanism lowering the selected unmanned vehicle onto the respective cradle assembly. 
     
     
       12. In an unmanned vehicle launch and recovery system for launch and recovering one or more unmanned vehicles and a RHIB-type surface vessel having port and starboard sides and an aft deck portion for transporting, launching and recovering the unmanned vehicles, a platform for mounting on the aft deck of the surface vessel comprising:
 an I-beam support assembly mounted laterally across the aft deck portion of the surface vessel, the I-beam assembly including a pair of spaced apart, generally parallel I-beam support members for providing structural foundation; 
 a movable trolley assembly mounted on the I-beam assembly, the trolley assembly including a pair of trolleys, each trolley mounted on and movable laterally along a respective I-beam between the port and starboard sides of the surface vessel, the pair of trolleys forming a laterally movable trolley axis; 
 a cradle-type assembly including a pair of cradles each mounted lengthwise on the I-beam assembly along either respective side of the surface vessel for supporting a respective unmanned vehicle; 
 a pivotable A-frame hoist assembly having a base and including a vehicle recovery basket, the base of the A-frame attached lengthwise across the trolley assembly so that the A-frame is laterally moved when the trolley assembly is moved laterally toward a selected port or starboard side of the surface vessel to allow the A-frame to be controllably movable between the port and starboard sides of the vessel and controllably pivotable about the trolley axis for selective positioning over a selected one of the cradles; 
 the A-frame hoist assembly including a winch mechanism for lifting a selected unmanned vehicle from the selected cradle assembly to the vehicle recovery basket, the A-frame then being laterally movable further toward the selected port or starboard side of the vessel to allow clearance of the lifted unmanned vehicle over the respective side. 
 
     
     
       13. The platform as in  claim 12  for recovery of an unmanned vehicle, including the winch mechanism lifting an unmanned vehicle from the surface up and over a selected side of the vessel where the A-frame is controllably moved laterally over a respective cradle assembly on the respective side of the surface vessel, the winch mechanism lowering the selected unmanned vehicle onto the respective cradle assembly. 
     
     
       14. An unmanned vehicle launch and recovery system comprising:
 one or more unmanned vehicles; 
 a surface vessel having port and starboard sides and an aft deck portion disposed at a generally low vertical freeboard distance for transporting, launching and recovering the unmanned vehicles, the surface vessel including
 an I-beam support assembly mounted laterally across the aft deck portion of the surface vessel, the I-beam assembly including a pair of spaced apart, generally parallel I-beam support members for providing structural foundation; 
 a movable trolley assembly mounted on the I-beam assembly, the trolley assembly including a pair of trolleys, each trolley mounted on and movable laterally along a respective I-beam between the port and starboard sides of the surface vessel, the pair of trolleys forming a laterally movable trolley axis; 
 a cradle-type assembly including a pair of cradles each mounted lengthwise along either respective side of the surface vessel for supporting a respective unmanned vehicle; 
 a pivotable A-frame hoist assembly having a base and including a vehicle recovery basket, the base of the A-frame attached lengthwise across the trolley assembly so that the A-frame is laterally moved when the trolley assembly is moved laterally toward a selected port or starboard side of the surface vessel to allow the A-frame to be controllably movable between the port and starboard sides of the vessel and controllably pivotable about the trolley axis for selective positioning over a selected one of the cradles; 
 the A-frame hoist assembly including a winch mechanism for lifting a selected unmanned vehicle from the selected cradle assembly to the vehicle recovery basket, the A-frame then being laterally movable further toward the selected port or starboard side of the vessel to allow clearance of the lifted unmanned vehicle over the respective side of the surface vessel, so that lowering of the selected unmanned vehicle by the winch mechanism over the selected side of the surface vessel to the surface allows for launching of the unmanned vehicle.